February 5, 2022

Tomial Tooth

By riedererjt

Although it looks like one, a Tomial Tooth is not a tooth. It is a sharp wedge on both sides of the upper beak of some birds. There is also a matching notch on each side of the lower beak.

Falcons, kites, and shrikes have tomial teeth, making it easier for these predators to sever the spinal cords of their vertebrate prey.